Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna slammed for what he said after West Ham United loss
David Watson has slammed Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna for what he said following his side’s 4-1 loss to West Ham United.
McKenna appeared to take a swipe at West Ham’s style of play when telling BBC’s Match of the Day [5 October] that United played “a lot of direct balls to [Michail] Antonio”.
Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta were all on the scoresheet to ensure Julen Lopetegui recorded his first win at the London Stadium.
Ex-England goalkeeper coach Watson, who also played between the sticks at Barnsley during a lengthy stint at the club, appeared on Fozcast [7 October, 24:30] alongside co-hosts Ben Foster and Tom Ochoa and shared he was “disappointed” with McKenna for not giving West Ham more credit for the victory.
He said: “Look, it’s a massive win for Lopetegui. The West Ham fans demand a certain style of football, and Antonio said post-game that the change from last year is they’re trying to become a more possession-based team, and that takes time to evolve.
“Look, [David] Moyes’ team, were Moyes’ team, and really a very successful team, but they’ve gone for a newer type brand, a sexier type brand, and it’ll take time to evolve, because the training routines, the drills, will be so different, and what it demands from the team.
“But they played excellent football. Did Ipswich play into their hands? Yes. I was very disappointed with the interview from McKenna post-game, because West Ham could have had ten.”
West Ham blew away Ipswich Town at the London Stadium
The Lopetegui era may have well and truly begun at the London Stadium. The side were excellent as they blew Ipswich away and were just “too good” for the newly promoted side.
While the Spaniard claimed a crucial three points for West Ham, the club still has much work to do after a run of only two Premier League wins in seven matches. But the signs are there that the side could be set for a turnaround in fortunes.
The influential players of the Moyes tenure are starting to prove their worth to the side under the new boss, particularly Paqueta, who looked back to his best after concerns regarding his long-term future in East London.
Bowen has stepped up in the absence of summer signing Niclas Fullkrug and is thriving in his new role as the spearhead of the Hammer attack – with Kudus opening his account for the season and Crysencio Summerville and Luis Guilherme slowly entering the first team fold, there is much to be excited about at the London Stadium.
A trip to Tottenham after the international break could not arrive at a more perfect time for the Irons. Spurs are fresh off a shock 3-2 loss to Brighton on Sunday [6 October] and the momentum has swung in the visitors’ favour ahead of another huge clash for Lopetegui.
The floodgates have finally opened for West Ham and the side must ensure they continue their new-found goalscoring form into the Premier League after the international break.
In other West Ham news, the Irons face a legal minefield amid the Lucas Paqueta legal allegations.
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